The heart of the abortion problem, therefore, is not merely whether or not to choose abortion, but whether or not to establish loving, godly, face-to-face relationships with other persons.
Abortion is the delayed consequence of human faces having hardened into façades (courtesy of Helena Rubenstein, Max Factor, Calvin Klein, GQ, or the Wall Street Journal).
The effort to reverse abortion through political persuasions is, of course, both needed and urgent.
But this effort must be accompanied by advising, inspiring, and teaching others about the irreplaceable origin of morality in the loving look on the countenance of the other.
A special effort to achieve this, natural though it is, will be needed given our situation in an impersonal, technological world.
We should take heart, however, in the words of personalist philosopher Jacques Maritain: “As individuals, we are subject to the stars. As persons, we rule them.”
We need not be victims of our environment.
The primary responsibility, then, of every human being is being human.
In that act of being human one finds his authentic personhood as a dynamic integration of individual uniqueness and social responsibility, and as a creative fusion of love and generosity.
Resource for Parents: Helping My Teen website -- http://bit.ly/d5hiHX
What about the Parents of teens?
Come on, we have issues too!
Like how do we teach our teen character, or how to stay out of trouble, or just how to motivate them to pick up their room.
Now there’s a website just for you! Yep. You. The Parent of Teens.
Just follow this link http://bit.ly/d5hiHX
We highly recommend this website.
You’ll find tips and tricks or just a place to hang out and talk with other parents.
Check it out; you’ll be glad you did.[13 Oct 2010, www.teen-aid.org]
PROJECT RESPECT’S ONLINE TRAINING
Abstinence educators are taking advantage of the opportunity to get world-class training online. Their responses tell the story: "Thank you for creating such a wonderful way of being able to go through the training process." "The format that Project Reality utilizes to deliver the Abstinence message is awesome."
This is an innovative training; no other abstinence program has one like it. You can participate in this world class training by contacting Project Reality's Florida Office at 239- 659- 1095 or by emailing
[abstinence clearinghouse, 2008]
From our US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS):
PARENT PACKAGE
The Medical Institute knows how important parents are in the lives of youth.
To assist parents and parenting adults as they guide children toward a healthy future, MI has assembled the Parent Package and priced it to fit the family budget!
The package includes the newly released book Hooked, the widely popular book Questions Kids Ask About Sex, and the Tell Me NOW Complete Set.
For a limited time, the package is available for $49.99! That is $29.99 off of the list price! Go to www.medinstitute.org to order this incredible resource for parents.
[12 February, 2009, MI Responds to the Virginity Pledge Report, www.medinstitute.org]
CONCERNED PARENTS REPORT searches for studies in six areas:
"Understanding Your Teen," "What's Working With Teens," "Today's Risky Lifestyle Behavior," "Today's Danger with Sexually Transmitted Infections/Diseases," "Why Contraception is Not the Answer," and "Why Abortion is Not the Answer to a Teen Pregnancy." [Abstinence Clearinghouse Email Updates, 31Oct07]
Their website is a good place to start when researching these issues. http://concernedparents.com/index.htm
JUST SAY YES: “LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP”
A skydiving theme is used to portray the urgency of developing a plan prior to making a decision that could significantly impact one’s life. Since the premier in 10/07, this state-of-the-art multimedia program has been shown in TX and San Francisco.
To book “Look Before You Leap”, contact Just Say YES at 972.437.0002 or email . [Abstinence Clearinghouse Email Updates, 31Oct07]
SEX AND CELL PHONES: PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN
New technology brings new challenges. This resource booklet is intended to help parents make wise choices as they purchase wireless devices for children. Become educated about new wireless technology and its capabilities and learn to engage in open and consistent discussions with your children about safe use practices.
Read online: http://www.icarecoalition.org/images/SexandCellphones/Sex%20and%20Cells%20Booklet.pdf; abstinence.net, posted 29Jan09]
A report has been released exclusively to the National Abstinence Clearinghouse by Dr. Stan Weed in response to a Mathematica Study (released in April 2007) which claimed that abstinence education was not effective in preventing premarital sex.
The report by Dr. Weed is based on his work with over 400,000 youth in over 30 states throughout the last 15 years and proves without a doubt that abstinence until marriage education truly does work.
¶ Character education curriculum which "helps adolescents learn responsible sexual and social values through good literature" -- "The Loving Well Project"; •• 617-353-4088
A CHOICE IN EDUCATION
¶ curriculum "Reasonable Reasons To Wait"; •• 703-263-1102
COLORADO SPRINGS PREGNANCYCENTERCENTER
¶ curriculum, workshops "Education For Life"; •• 719-527-5640
THE COMPLETE PARENT WORKSHOP KIT This interactive CD gives you everything that you will need to promote and stage a well-attended parent workshop on abstinence. It includes a complete PowerPoint of “Fighting Back,” a private use video of Keith Deltano’s video presentation “Fighting Back,” detailed instructions of the what to do and when to do it, and much more. Please visitwww.keithdeltano.com or call 1-888-772-9683 for more information on this extremely beneficial resource![Abstinence Clearinghouse E-Mail Update, August 16, 2006]
¶curriculum, anthology of classic movies with teacher manual; parent training -- "Love and Life at the Movies"; "A Guidebook for Professionals and Parents"; •• 540-635-4420
Abstinence: Safe...Sure...Simple
FAMILIES UNITED TO PREVENT TEENPREGNANCY
PREGNANCY
¶ Curriculum, ages 9-15 and their families. Includes intensive 7 week summer program, school year component, and home visits. ¶ Teen mentors -- "A Life Options Model Curriculum For Youth"; •• 414-449-2868
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
¶ video program -- "Sex, Lies, &...The Truth"; •• 800-932-9123
FOREVER FRIENDS
¶ Mentoring; •• 903-643-3043
FOUNDATION FOR THOUGHT AND ETHICS
¶ Sex & Character, excellent hardbound textbook for character and sexuality education; 972-661-1661
FREE TEENS
¶ curriculum, comic book, parent training -- "Talking with Teens"; Ctr. For Educational Media; •• 201-358-1504
Free LovecostsToo Much…
FRIENDS FIRST
¶ curriculum, teen mentors; "Wait Training", S.T.A.R.S.
•• 800-909-WAIT
HERITAGE HOUSE ’76
¶ Brochures, books, booklets, bumper stickers, videos, DVDs, pregnancy center materials (some have religious content); 800-858-3040; www.hh76.com
¶ curriculum -- "easy to use, effective program tools for school or community" -- "Family Accountability Communicating Teen Sexuality" (FACTS); •• 503-215-6377
Develop a PASSION 4 PURITY
POWER CORD COMMUNICATIONS
great brochures, T-shirts, CDs ** 254-235-3318
PROJECT REALITY
¶ Curricula -- "Choosing the Best"; "Facing Reality"; •• 800-774-2378
RESPECT INC
¶ curriculum -- "oldest and most widely used program in the world""Sex Respect"; •• 815-932-8389;www.sexrespect.org
SAFE INC
¶ curriculum -- "You Are Unique"; •• 205-979-0302
SHORT, DR. RAY
Sex, Love or Romance: Can You Really Trust Your Heart? Back in print! written by Dr. Ray E. Short, provides an excellent message that every abstinence educator will find stimulating. NAC - (605) 335-3643 to order.
TRUE LOVE WAITS
TEEN AID
¶ curricula, large selection of videos, posters, brochures, etc.; •• 509-482-2868/ 800-357-2868; www.teen-aid.org
TRUE LOVE WAITS
¶ materials, rally, ending to be used with various curricula (religious content); •• 615-251-2307/ 800-LUV-WAIT
WILDING INDUSTRIES
¶ dog tags, pins, buttons, fuzzy puffs with abstinence messages, locker mirror, key rings; ** 800-241-1630; http://members.aol.com/wildingind
Abstinence Makes theGrow Fonder
OTHER RESOURCES Illusions: Uncovering the Truth About Pornography [Abstinence Clearinghouse E-Mail Update, August 16, 2006]
Developed by AWARE, “Illusions” is a two hour PowerPoint presentation for grades 8-12 that dramatically exposes the harmful effects of pornography. Through appropriate, guided interactions, students come to recognize that just beneath its seductive veneer, pornography is a dangerous underground world of deception, addiction and devastation. To learn more about Illusions visit awareprogram.net or call 360-699-2384!
